Republican candidates swept several local House races last night, helping add to a solid Republican majority in the House of Delegates.
In the newly redistricted 2nd House District, Republican Mark Dudenhefer beat Democrat Esteban Garces with 60 percent of the vote.

The Fredericksburg area has more open General Assembly districts than usual for this November's legislative elections.
Four House districts in the region have no incumbent.
Two of those districts are new to the area, one incumbent retired and another incumbent withdrew to run for another office.

The Virginia Public Access Project has compiled the top five most expensive nomination contests in the House and Senate.
One surprise: The most expensive Senate primary was one of the least competitive.

Both political parties finalized their slates of legislative candidates yesterday with a group of primary elections around the state.
All 140 General Assembly seats are up for election this year, and Republicans are hoping to seize the chance to retake control of the state Senate, where Democrats have only a two-seat majority.
Locally, Republicans held four primaries to nominate candidates.
In the 99th House District, Margaret Bevans Ransone won the Republican nomination. The 99th covers all of the Northern Neck and part of Caroline County.

Voters in select Virginia localities will hit the polls today to pick party nominees and set the slate for November's general election.
Around the state, primaries will be held in seven House of Delegates districts and nine Senate districts, which are at the center of a battle for control of the chamber. Republicans want to wrest the Senate majority from Democrats to secure control of both legislative chambers and the Executive Mansion.
All 140 House and Senate seats are up for election Nov. 8.

Tuesday is the deadline for parties to nominate candidates for this fall's General Assembly elections, and in several districts that means a primary election.
Statewide, 50 localities have primaries on Tuesday. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The primaries are spread among seven House districts and nine Senate districts.
The nomination contests are precursors to a hard-fought fall campaign season, as Republicans seek to retake control of the state Senate. There, Democrats hold only a slim two-seat majority, and Republicans think they can win enough seats to tip the balance. Several races, especially in Northern Virginia and Southside, are expected to be tough ones.

Voters in the Northern Neck, take note: You've got an election just around the corner.
Republicans in the 99th House District--which covers all of the Northern Neck, King George County and part of Caroline County--are holding a primary election Aug. 23 to choose a candidate.
The 99th is an open seat, due to the retirement of incumbent Del. Albert Pollard (D-Mollusk).